Can there be an Argentina vs Brazil final: FIFA WC 22 Preview

Can we see an Argentina vs Brazil final at the 2022 FIFA World Cup?

The simple answer is yes. In theory, it is possible. But so is Tunisia facing Ecuador in the final. Any two teams who have qualified can hypothetically face each other. So the question we actually want to be answered is, will Argentina face Brazil in the World Cup final?

Before getting into the ‘will they’ part, let’s see why this question is so prominent. Argentina and Brazil are the two nations most intrinsically linked with the sport of football. They didn’t invent the game, nor am I claiming that they are the greatest ever to play it. But they have produced some of the best footballers of all time. This includes names like Di Stefano, Garrincha, Pele, Passallera, Zico, Maradona, Batistuta, Ronaldo, and Messi. They have a hardcore fan following that transcends geographical boundaries. Together they have been part of 12 of the 21 FIFA World Cup finals, just never at the same time.

And these aren’t just two countries we have picked randomly from the globe. They are neighbors with so much shared history and culture, including but not limited to football. These two have played each other over 100 times internationally, including in 4 Copa America finals. But never in a World Cup final.

The closest analogy I can think of from club football is Real Madrid and Barcelona. A historic rivalry that has played out so often in domestic competitions. Both of them have at different times been the best teams in Europe, yet they never faced each other in the Champions League final.

Now, coming to 2022, are the two even good enough to reach the final? Generally speaking, Brazil and Argentina are always considered among the favorites for the World Cup. But their cases look even stronger this time, based on their own squads and recent results.

While Argentina has been undefeated since 2020, Brazil’s only loss in this three-year period came at the hands of Argentina in the 2021 Copa America final. Compared to this, France, Belgium, Germany, Spain, England, and Portugal have all suffered defeats in the recent international break itself. What’s also true, though, is that under the banner of the UEFA Nations League, the latter sides have often faced the upper echelon of European football. But Argentina’s 3–0 win over Italy aside, neither they nor Brazil have faced a major European team since the pandemic.

Along with the form, both the South American teams also have a sturdy, settled starting XI. Their problems are now limited to picking just 23 names out of their vast pool of talent. Meanwhile, teams like Spain, France, and Germany are yet to find balance in their defense, midfield, and attack respectively. Most bookies also consider Brazil and Argentina to be among the favorites alongside France and England. The final piece of advantage that the Latin sides have over the Europeans is Qatar’s hot and dry weather.

Now that we have established how good these two look, let's talk about their World Cup draws. And this is where we see the first signs of discouragement. Argentina is in Group C while Brazil is in Group G. This means if each of them wins their respective groups and consequent knockout games, Brazil will face Argentina on 13th December in Lusail Stadium in the Semifinal. Sounds like an absolute treat for the concerned ticket holders but falls a little short in our grand scheme of things.

Therefore, either Argentina or Brazil would have to finish runners-up in their respective groups. Now, Argentina is placed along with Poland, Mexico, and Saudi Arabia. And I can say without an iota of doubt that Argentina will top this group, most likely by winning all three games. Things get slightly interesting with Brazil. They face Serbia, Switzerland, and Cameroon. The idea of Cameroon troubling this Brazil side, while not impossible, is a little far-fetched. But Serbia and Switzerland both qualified for the World Cup by topping their respective UEFA qualifier groups ahead of teams like Portugal and Italy. And the way they are set up allows them to absorb a lot of pressure while finding opportunities on the counter, especially through set pieces.

Once again, the probability of Brazil finishing runners-up in their group is very low. But in the unlikely case that it happens, let’s see how it can pan out for both Argentina and Brazil. On topping Group C, Argentina will face the runners-up of Group D, which could be France (replay of 2018 R16) or Denmark. A win here will take them to the Quarterfinal, where they could expect the mighty Netherlands. Victory over Louis Van Gaal’s men will take them to the Semifinal, where the list of possible opponents includes Spain, Germany, Belgium, Croatia, and Portugal.

Coming to Brazil, finishing runners-up in Group G will take them face-to-face with the winner of Group H. This could be Portugal or Uruguay. In the next round, they can come up against former winners (Spain and Germany), 2018 runners-up (Croatia), and the team they lost to in 2018 (Belgium). Getting past this will take them to the Semifinal, where they could expect holders France, Denmark, or the Netherlands.

So there you have it, this is the unlikely scenario that fans need to pray for, to see Argentina and Brazil in the final. A lot can go wrong in this route, most obviously with the group stage itself. In further stages too, neither of the two teams can avoid the inevitable rule of tournament football, that anyone can beat anyone on their day. All we as fans can do is hope.